Booted Eagle Close-up

Birds are now prolific after the good rains in the desert this year. Bird have become prolific and raptors such as Black Hariers, Red-necked Falcons and Booted Eagles have come in to hunt them. While taking guests to the bushman's cave near the lodge, we had a close-up encounter with a Booted Eagle. While showing the guests the rock art Lark-like Buntings and Speckled Pigeons kept moving around us. We were concentrating on the rock art, when suddenly the eagle (a pale form Booted Eagle) came swooping into the overhang, just a couple meters from us. It went out, obviously now with our full attention, and just carried on hunting on the edge of the mountain. It made a further two passes into the 'cave' where we were, clearly not that bothered by us. It must be a perfect place for it to trap birds, as they would hardly be able to see it coming until it was right on them!!

Posted: Sossusvlei by Vernon Swanepoel, Date: 9 June 2008